China and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU)?in?Shanghai?on Saturday concerning cooperation
in the energy and mineral resources sectors.
Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju and visiting Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono attended the signing ceremony held at the
second Sino-Indonesian energy forum, which opened in Shanghai on
Saturday.
Huang said the forum will create a favorable environment for
strengthening bilateral energy cooperation and the improved
dialogue mechanism will help deepen mutual understanding and expand
cooperation.
Win-win economic cooperation is the foundation of the strategic
partnership between China and Indonesia, he said.
Both China and Indonesia have made remarkable achievements in
the energy sector since the first energy forum was held in Bali on
Sept. 25, 2002, the vice premier added.
Huang said the Chinese and Indonesian peoples have a long
history of friendly relations. Bilateral ties have progressed
remarkably since the two countries established diplomatic relations
56 years ago.
Bilateral ties entered a new phase after Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a strategic partnership with
his Indonesian counterpart Susilo during a state visit
to?Jakarta last year, Huang pointed out.
He noted that as two major developing nations in Asia, the
friendly cooperation of the two sides is not only in their own
interests but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in
Asia and the world.
The Indonesian president said energy security is a key factor in
allowing China and Indonesia to achieve peace, stability and
development.
He said there is great potential for the two sides to explore
energy cooperation and the pace of cooperation should be further
accelerated.
The two countries have agreed that, beginning in 2009,
Indonesia's Tangguh gas field will provide 2.6 million tons of
liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually to east China's Fujian Province for a period of 25 years.
Indonesia is the largest economy in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China is its fourth largest trade
partner.
(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2006)